Our WPS Middle and High School Dance Team and Repertoire Company members took part of a dance intensive sponsored by FAB at WPS this Saturday! Dancers took classes in the styles of ballet, hip hop, contemporary, and jazz. Thank you to all of our guest teachers!

About the teachers!

Glynn Owens- Ballet/ Contemporary
Glynn began dancing at Disney’s “Festival of the Lion King” back in 1999. Glynn received his B.F.A. in Ballet from College Conservatory of Music at University of Cincinnati as well as attending Paul Taylor Dance intensives. Glynn served as an apprentice with Dance Kaleidoscope under David Hachoy before dancing two seasons with Verb Ballets under Hernando Cortez ; performing master works by: Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Heinz Poll, David Parsons, Sean Curran and Anthony Tudor. Glynn is currently in his second season at Florida Dance Theatre. Glynn has been a guest artist with Cincinnati Ballet, Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theater and Ballet South and has danced for two companies voted by Dance Magazine as the “Top 25 to Watch” as well as being reviewed in Dance Magazine (May 2005).

Carrie Crawford – Jazz
Carrie (Moore) Crawford started dancing at the age of 4. What started out as an effort to correct her extremely turned in legs without using braces ended up not only working, but becoming her lifelong passion. She grew up dancing in Greenville, SC and upon graduation moved immediately to Los Angeles where she was accepted into the Apprentice program at The Performing Arts Center in Van Nuys. She spent 2 years training very closely with some of the best in the industry: Joe Malone, Jackie Sleight, Jerry Evans, Terri Yates, Doug Caldwell, Michelle Elkin, and Mark Goodman just to name a few. Training so closely with choreographers of such different styles has given Carrie a great deal of versatility in her own choreography now. She has a unique sense of how the body works and how to communicate that to her students so they understand which muscles control which movements and the importance of a solid foundation in technique. Her style is a refreshing blend of classic, even slightly “old school” jazz and lyrical/contemporary, but with a fresh and modern twist. Carrie always tries to stay current and exciting without ever abandoning her true love and respect for her roots. Musicality, style and body lines are always her top focus. Carrie has been performing, teaching and choreographing professionally across the country for 15 years. Currently based in Orlando, FL with her loving husband and new baby girl, Carrie is focusing on reaching out to students everywhere in hopes of spreading her knowledge, love and respect of dance as far as she can!

Mr. Paul – Hip Hop
Paul Johnson Jr. was born in Palatka, Florida. His dance journey has offered him several opportunities to train with the most famous hip hop choreographers in the dance industry. Paul has traveled as far Los Angeles California to study under some of the greats like Chuck Maldonado. He has also trained with Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio, Edge Performing Arts Center, Millennium Dance Complex, International Dance Academy, New York City’s Broadway Dance Center. Paul Jr was the Artistic Director of Southern Vibez, and company choreographer of Another Level Dance Crew. Paul Jr’s mission is to encourage dancers to reach their greatest potential through the power of dance and music.

David Kiyak- Contemporary / Ballet
David Kiyak, a native of Athens, Alabama, is a former principal dancer for the Orlando Ballet and carries more than 15 years of dancing experience. Dancing since he was five, David has travelled around the world to use his talent and skill .David began training in Huntsville, Alabama under the direction of Clinton Rothwell. In 2008, he joined the Alabama Ballet where he performed leading roles in works by Twyla Tharp, Christopher Bruce, and George Balanchine. He joined Orlando Ballet in 2010, and in the summer of 2011, he was invited by prima ballerina, Maniya Barredo, to perform in the Philippines as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet.

Kalee Simpson- Leaps, Jumps and Turns Technique
Kaylee Simpson has been dancing since she can’t remember! Kaylee is a former member of the National Championship winning University of Tennessee Dance Team. In 2015, the team won the Division 1A Jazz title and in 2017 Kaylee served as captain for the winning UT Dance Team. Kaylee is a former dance instructor for the Universal Dance Association and is currently on the coaching staff for Oviedo High School’s dance team. Kaylee has performed in Dubai, UAE in at the Dubai Rugby 7s Tournament and has performed for College Gameday, SEC network, ESPN, ABC, CNN, HLN, and NBC. Kaylee is currently working on her Master’s degree at the University of Central Florida in Sports Management.